What is the standard temperature at an altitude of 10,000 feet?

To determine the standard temperature at an altitude of 10,000 feet, it's important to understand the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) model, which is commonly used in aviation. At sea level, the standard temperature is defined as 15°C. The standard atmosphere assumes a lapse rate of 2°C per 1,000 feet of altitude gain up to about 36,000 feet.

Using this lapse rate, we can calculate the temperature decrease at 10,000 feet. For every 1,000 feet gained in altitude, the temperature drops by 2°C. Therefore, at 10,000 feet (which is 10 times 1,000 feet), the total temperature drop would be 20°C (2°C x 10).

Starting from the sea-level temperature of 15°C:

15°C - 20°C = -5°C

Thus, the standard temperature at 10,000 feet is indeed -5°C. This value is critical for pilots and aviation professionals as it helps in performance calculations, including aircraft takeoff and landing distances, engine performance, and fuel consumption.